The sheriff harassed immigrants who lived in the county and also activists who advocated for their rights. Michael and Jim published stories that exposed him to the public, and this led to their arrest in October 2007.

The detention of the two individuals was against their Fifth Amendment rights, and therefore, they sued the county government for the violation. They were paid $3.75 million as settlement fees and used the money in setting up the charity initiative.

The outstanding support of the Larkin and Lacey Frontera Fund has enabled many foundations to accomplish their missions. An example is the Arizona Justice Project, which has been fighting for the exoneration of the people who have been wrongfully imprisoned. It also strives to protect individuals who are facing injustice due to proper legal representation.

AJP believes that many people from disadvantaged backgrounds do not get justice since they cannot afford to pay attorney fees. It has filed several appeals to release wrongfully jailed individuals, reduce sentences for the over punished prisoners, and also to ensure that inmates with critical diseases access proper medical attention. Read more: Michael Larcey | Crunchbase
and Phoenix New Time

The Arizona Justice Project argues that the rights of every person are compromised whenever injustice against one individual is left to prevail. It has been seeking for help from law schools across the state, lawyers who are willing to do pro-bono cases, and investigators to ensure that it achieves its mission.

AJP has more than 36 appeals in court. The group prints and distributes free newsletters that create public awareness on fallacies of wrongful detention, updates on its petitions, and also inform lawyer and law student on developments that occur in the forensic science world.

The charity work of Michael and Jim has also supported the Arizona Dream Act Coalition (ADAC) in running its activities. The group has been operational since 2006, and it was created by young undocumented immigrants who studied in Arizona. The students were determined to end an unfair law that made them pay high tuition fees.

The cost of education was too high for them even in community colleges. ADAC also protested the blocking of undocumented students from being given public scholarships. The Hispanic youths felt that they were being oppressed and fought the injustices without the fear of being undocumented.

ADAC is still determined to ensure that all immigrant youths have access to a decent and affordable education as well as formal employment.

It recently went to court to challenge an executive order of the Arizona governor that stopped the issue of driving licenses to undocumented immigrants.